WHAT: Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas 35th annual Awards

WHERE: Winspear Opera House

WHEN: December 9, 2025

THE 411: The morning program drew hundreds of supporters to the AT&T Performing Arts Center, with Pam and John Beckert serving as co-chairs for the milestone event.

One of the program’s focal points was a live conversation with activist, author, and former First Daughter Barbara Bush, moderated by five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist Tashara Parker.

Tashara Parker and Barbara Bush.Photo by Lindsay Jones Photography

Photo by Lindsay Jones Photography

Barbara Bush chats onstage at the 2025 Planned Parenthood Awards.

Bush, now the NBA’s Head of Social Responsibility, reflected on her famous family with a mix of humor and candor, sharing stories that ranged from lighthearted Bush family moments to deeply personal memories of her grandmother, whom she described as unwavering in her commitments to family and causes she believed in.

The Gertrude Shelburne Humanitarian Award was presented to Froswa’ Booker-Drew, Ph.D., whose acceptance speech underscored her long-standing work on behalf of women and communities of color. Booker-Drew spoke about her partnership with Planned Parenthood on a new initiative supporting women navigating perimenopause and menopause, situating the program within her broader advocacy and philanthropic leadership in North Texas and beyond.

The Katherine Ripley Print Media Award was given to The Dallas Morning News for its investigative series “The Standard of Fear,” which examined the real-world consequences of restrictive reproductive care in Texas through first-person reporting.

Following the ceremony, attendees continued the day across Dallas, dining at participating restaurants — including Le Bilboquet, Nonna, Teak Tearoom, Mirador, and Lovers Seafood and Market — that donated a portion of their proceeds to Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, extending the event’s impact well beyond the Arts District.

WHO: Thana Hickman, Missy Falchi, Ken Lambrecht, Abigail Sinwell, Beth Mohsinger, Leora Hanser, Katie Mullen, Lee Nichols, Caroline Snell Wagner, Jennifer Nocerini, Margaret and Brad Hirsch, Katy Murray, Sallie Behnke, Melissa Narvaez, Yazmin Garcia, Erik Moss, Maria Ramos Pacheco, Azul Sordo, Lauren Caruba, and Zaira Perez Viera.